Making-ready machines



April 30, 1957 G. KALDSCHMIDT MAKING-READY MACHINES 3 Sheis-Sheet 1Filed May 14, 195:?

' INVENTOR. (:vEORG KALDSCHMIDT April 30, 1957 Filed May 14, 1955 G.KALDSCHMIDT MAKING-READY MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEORGKALDSCHMIDTI April 30, 1957 G. KALDSCHMIDT MAKING READY MACHINES 5Sheets-Shet 3 Filed May 14, 1955.

INVENTOR. GEORG KALDSCHMIDT 2,790,384 MAKING-READY MACHINES GeorgKaldschmidt,Dresden-Weisser, Hirsch, Germany,

assignor to VEB Druckmas chinenwerk Victoria, VVB Polygraph, Heidenau,Saxony, Germany Application May 14, 1953, Serial No. 355,019 7 Claims.Ci. tin-'21s This invention relates to a making-ready machine forprinting surfaces, and particularly for printing surfaces used in rotarysheet printing presses for first side letterpress printing. I V

The letterpress method is at present at a disadvantage compared withfiat-bed and intaglio printing processes, because the printing surfaceshave to be made ready according to requirements in order to print out aform. This preparatory work takes much time, particularly in acomplicated form, owing to the difference in height of the types of theprinting plates and the necessary printing on level surfaces.

In competition with the other two processes letterpress printing willlast only if the stoppage times of the press due to making ready areconsiderably shortened. This can be brought about by performingmaking-ready operations chiefly outside the limits of the press.

Machines built for attaining this object are known, but they serve onlyfor preparing stereotype plates to be taken up by the plate cylinder ofnewspaper r'otaries, and the impression cylinder thereof presses the webagainst the plate only when a proof has to be taken. I

The invention proposes to reduce the stoppage times of a press in thefollowing manner: a

At least two readily exchangeable plate cylinders are used for eachrotary press, one of which is operating in the press and the other oneis prepared for the next form by a making-ready machine, The impressioncylinder placed in this machine is an exact copy of the one work ing inthe press, so that the make-ready sheet can be fully prepared on themachine and transferred to the impression cylinder of the press withoutfurther trouble.

Owing to this arrangement, the stoppage time of the press, in case of achange of work, is reduced to a minimum that can hardly be lowered.

The machine according to the invention is particularly intended forcooperation with rotary letterpressmachines, though it lies also withinthe range of the invention to make ready printing surfaces used in otherprinting processes outside the printing press.

The arrangement of the plate cylinder in the makingready machine;according to" the invention is an exact reproduction of that of theplate cylinder operating in the press to permit rapid exchange of acylinder, the stress being the same as in the press. As for the rest,the makf ing-ready machine with its equipment is so constructed that allnecessary work can be performed, by it. a: a p

The application of the inventioiraccelerates maki ready operations tosuch a degree: that the operating" efficiency of a rotary press is not"reduced by unneeessary stops. This is accomplished by simultaneouslyproviding the making-ready machine with a plurality of plate cylindersdelivered to the making-ready station by way of the top of the frame ofthe machine, which is constructed to form a track, so that, apart fromthe plate cylinder just made ready, there are always one or moreadditional cylinders available in the immediate proximity 2 ,7 of themaking-ready station to insure a quick and uninterrupted sequence ofoperations. a P i I The makingready machine is further provided with amechanical lifting and lowering device to carry the plate cylinder to beprepared from thetrack to the front of the impression cylinder disposedinside the frame, andback again. The lifting and lowering device may bedriven hydraulically or by compressed air or actuated by a rack gearingor any other mechanical drivingmeans. v V v ,3

For inking the plate cylinder serves a simple tW0 Q1ler inking apparatuswhichis started andstoppedby means of eccentrics. To insure gooddistributionprovision is made for allowing the inking apparatus to movealso in stopped condition. I 1 A The plate cylinder is driven via theimpression cylinder by a motor which reversibly moves the impression andplate cylinders to and fro and drives also the inking ap paratus and thelifting device in a manner regulated by clutches. I V I To facilitatemaking the plate cylinder ready for printing means for throwing offimpression are provided.

In front of the plate cylinder a folding working table supporting platesand tools is arranged A size ruler consisting of a graduated transverseruler fitted with laterally adjustable pointers anda graduatedlongitudinal ruler insures accurate insertion and adjustmentof theplates, though a dial indicator may also servefor this purpose. Theimpression cylinder, too, possesses a turnable working table on whichutensils required for making ready may be deposited within reachof theoperator, A similar table fitted with lateral displacement means is usedfor the registration of sheets.

An example of a form of construction is shown in the drawings, whereinhFigure 1 is a side view of the making-ready machine according to theinvention; y

Fig. 2, a front view thereof, partly in section; and Fig. 3 showsdiagrammatically the transport of the plate cylinders. M

In the frame 1 the impression cylinder 2 isfirmly yet rotatably arrangedand engages with its toothed rim 3 a corresponding toothed rim 4 oftheplate cylinder fi, ,For, properly inserting the plate cylinder 5 in therim} the impression cylinder 2 possesses a marking tooth cooperatingwith a corresponding gap in the plate cylinder. I

The frame 1 accommodates also the inkingapparatus 6' which is put on andoff by means of the hand lever 7. 8 is the ink fountain tiltable by thelever 9. v The clutch for the drive of the ink fountain can be actuatedfrom both sides of the machine by the handle 10 and lever 11, In frontof the plate cylinder 5 a folding working table 12 is disposed in theframe 1, and a similar table is associated with the impression cylinder2 on. the other side of the machine 14 is the laying-on table, turnablein parallel direction, and fitted with lateral gauges. On;

the base of the frame 1 the driving motor 15 is positioned which drivesthe pump 16 and through the gearing 1 7 the toothed rim 3 of theimpression cylinder 2 The clutch.f0r the drive of the impressioncylinder is actuated by a hand lever 18 and foot lever 19, respectivelydis? posed on the sides of the impression and plate cylinders, The handlever 20 serves for changing" impression,

on the top of frame 1 rails 21 act as track re; deplete cylinders 5. Theside walls of frame 1 possessrecesses 22 in which the plate cylinders tobe made ready can be lowered to printing position and then lifted againto the level of the rails 21. Lifting and lowering of a plate cylinder 5is carried out mechanically by means of a hydraulic lifting deviceconsisting of the two lifting cylinders 23 which are laterally arrangedin frame 1 and the vertically movable pistons 24 of which embrace withcorrespondingly shaped bracket plates 25 the lateral bearing pins of theplate cylinder from below. Pins 26 lock the pistons 24 when in highestposition. The lifting cylinders 23 are operated from the pump 16 by wayof pipes 27 for the clutching and control of which serve levers 28, 29.The plate cylinders 5 are on both frontends provided with conicalbarrel-type bearing housings 30 having a broad peripheral groove 31. Theinternally conical bearings 32 are displaceable in the side walls offrame 1 and shown in outermost position. By means of the threadedspindles 33 the bearings are positioned far enough on the housings 30 toinsure good seating of the plate cylinder 5. The spindles 33 arearranged in guide hoods 34 which externally cover the plate cylinderoiltight and are provided with a pawl 45 to prevent loosening Of thebearings during operation. With the peripheral groove 31 the platecylinder runs on the rails 21.

Fig. 2 shows on the left-hand side a bearing pin 30 in its bearing 32while the bearing pin seen on the other side is outside the bearing. Inthis position the plate cylinder 5 is lifted, as indicated in thedrawing.

A plate cylinder to be made ready is carried to the machine in themanner according to Fig. 3 which shows the mode of operation of themachine. The plate cylinder to be prepared for printing is transportedto the machine on a dual carriage comprising a lower carriage 37 withwheels 36 and an upper carriage 39 with wheels 40, which is pushed onrails 38 of the lower carriage 37. The upper carriage 39 is fitted withfolding track bridges 41, 42. V The used plate cylinder is dismountedfrom the press, rolled on the upper part 39 of the dual carriage andtogether with the part 39 driven out of the press and on the lower part37 and locked in position. After the dual carriage 37, 39 has beenbrought to the side of the making-ready machine where the impressioncylinder is arranged, as indicated in solid lines in Fig. 3, the trackbridges 42 are folded and coupled with the rails 21 f the machine. Theplate cylinder is then rolled out of position I and into position IIwhere it remains for the present. In the meantime, the finished platecylinder 5" has been lifted by the hydraulic device 23, 24 from thelower position I to the upper position II, the dual carriage 37, 39brought to the side of the machine where the plate cylinder is located(shown in dotted position in Fig. 3) and the track bridge 41 coupledwith the rail 21. Thereupon the plate cylinder 5" is rolled on the dualcarriage 37, 39 into position III, the bridge 41 turned up, and thecylinder moved to the printing press for mounting. After removal of theplate cylinder 5" from the making-ready stationor machine a new cylinder5' can be rolled on the lifting device 23, 24 and placed in position forpreparation to make room for an additional cylinder to be handled by themachine.

When the adjustment of a plate cylinder in the makingready machine iscompleted the impression cylinder 2 is made'ready. The packing of theimpression cylinder of the press and that of the impression cylinder ofthe making-ready machine are of course alike. After the impressioncylinder 2 has been prepared so that a proof can be taken the turnabletable 14 is placed in laying-on position, the impression cylinder 2brought into operative position indicated by a mark, the cylindergrippers are opened by actuation of the handle 43, the sheet is pushedagainst the laying-on gauges of the impression cylinder and the cylindergrippers are closed again by the handle 43.

The plate cylinder 5 having been inked, impression is thrown on, and thecylinders 2 and 5 are set in motion by push button control. If the proofturns out to be satisfactory the packing of the impression cylinder ofthe making-ready machine is taken ofli and pasted on the impressioncylinder of the press, so that the press need be stopped only for thetime required for moving the plate cylinder out and in and putting onthe packing of the impression cylinder.

I claim: 7

1. A make-ready machine for preparing a substitute plate cylinder for arotary sheet printing press operating with a plate cylinder comprising aframe, sidewalls in said frame provided with substantially verticalrecesses, bearing means adjacent said recesses for locking thesubstitute plate cylinder in position in the machine and providingbearings for rotation of said cylinder, said bearing means beingcontrollable for releasing said cylinder, tracks arranged on saidsidewall on both sides of the recesses, a bracket, and a piston andcylinder unit normally supporting said bracket beneath a cylinder lockedin position and adapted to raise the bracket and the cylinder, whenreleased, via the recesses, to the level of said tracks, whereby thecylinder can be removed by rolling via the tracks on one side of therecesses and another cylinder substituted by rolling via the tracks onthe other side of the recesses.

2. A make-ready machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearingmeans are axially displaceable for releasing the cylinder, comprisingspindles on the cylinder having grooves for engaging said tracks.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a table, wheelsfor adapting said table for motion, and retractable bridges on oppositesides of said table, said bridges being positioned for selectivelyengaging the tracks on either side of the recesses, whereby cylinderscan be placed on and removed from said tracks.

4. A'machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said table, two sections ina vertical stack and rollers interposed between said sections, saidframe of the machine being shaped to accommodate the upper of saidsections for, engagement of said bridges with said tracks.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 4, comprising a pawl on said spindlesto prevent the loosening of the bearing during operation.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, comprising a folding work tableopenable into a position adjacent a cylinder locked in position in themachine whereby tools for working on the cylinder can be supported.

7. In a make-ready machine provided with tracks for receiving anddisposing of plate cylinders, the tracks being positioned at apredetermined height, a cylinder transporting table comprising a firsttable section, wheels on said first table section to provide formovement thereof, a second table section, wheels on said second tablesection for movably supporting said second section on said firstsection, the machine being adapted to accommodate said second section,and retractable bridges on said second section and being extendable toengage said tracks at the predetermined height to provide for themovement of cylinders between said second section and said tracks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7Imshaug Feb. 12, 1952

